ShareIn the midst of celebrating its 20th anniversary season, the World Poker Tour (WPT) has signed Phil Ivey to represent the brand on a global scale, naming the two-time WPT champ as its newest ambassador.
With tournament cashes in excess of $38 million and an untold amount won on high stakes cash game tables, Ivey is often referred to as poker's best overall player. The 45-year-old joins Doyle Brunson in aligning with the World Poker Tour ahead of the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas next month.
“WPT is one of the most respected brands in poker, and I’m honored to become a WPT Ambassador,” Ivey stated in a press release. “My commitment and passion towards poker has never been higher and I look forward to working with the WPT to showcase poker around the world, adding to its continued expansion.”
That expansion includes WPT Global, an online poker platform that launched in more than 50 countries earlier this year. Players on the WPT virtual felt now have opportunities to win seats to World Poker Tour live events.
The first of those live events to feature Ivey will take place from Dec. 1-20 at Wynn Las Vegas as the WPT World Championship. A main event $10k buy-in with $15 million guaranteed and a televised final table on Dec. 20 is a fitting way to begin Ivey's new role as brand ambassador.
“Phil Ivey is one of the greatest to ever have played the game of poker," said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. "His career achievements and success as a frequent WPT final tablist underscore his deserving legacy as a true poker icon. I know players will appreciate the chance to interact with him at upcoming events.”
Ivey has a dozen cashes in WPT events, topped by a $1.6 million payday for his victory at the 2008 WPT L.A. Poker Classic. Last year, Phil bested a 32-player field in a World Poker Tour online event, the $25,000 Heads Up Poker Championship, for a first place prize of $400,000.
